Felix Hernandez

RotoWire News: Hernandez will throw his first bullpen of spring training Saturday, and will stay on the same schedule as the rest of the rotation during the camp, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. (2/15/2018)

Year in Review: “King Felix” finally earned his crown in 2010, giving owners his long-awaited, breakout season. In a career high 238.2 innings, Hernandez struck out 217 batters while walking only 71, earning a WHIP of 1.14 and an ERA of 2.49. He won a career-high 19 games on a Mariners team with limited run support. Statistically, his improved change-up was the fourth-best amongst starting pitchers, giving him a fourth out-pitch and allowing him to keep hitters off guard. For pitching his most innings ever, Hernandez allowed the least number of home runs in his career, bringing his HR/9 down to 0.57.

The Year Ahead: Thanks to a dominant 2009, Hernandez will likely be the second or third pitcher off the draft board, so his upside is limited. However, don’t be scared off by the thought that this past season was a fluke. He has always been great at pitching to contact and getting ground balls, with a 56.8% career GB rate, and a 53.4% rate last season. With Jack Wilson at shortstop, and a great defensive outfield, any time Hernandez keeps the ball in the yard it will likely be turned into an out. With his continued maturity, his strikeout rate will likely improve as he keeps learning how to better locate and utilize his arsenal in 2010. Have no doubts about it, Hernandez is worthy to be the king of your fantasy staff. (Zach Sanders)

Profile: The newest recipient of the American League Cy Young Award, Felix Hernandez is a dominating fantasy stud when it comes to strikeouts. Felix racks up large inning totals and has seen a rise in strikeout rate each of the last four seasons. Playing in Safeco Field helps suppress Felix’s ERA even further from its already excellent starting position. Regardless of the rest of the offseason, the Mariners are expected to field another solid defense behind King Felix, as well, helping to gobble up would-be hits and keep Felix’s WHIP down as well. The downside to Felix’s 2010 season was his relatively low win total. No matter that the Mariners are not likely to enter 2011 as a serious contender for the division, they should be much better from their historically poor offense and awful bullpen. Improvement in those realms should boost Felix’s win total next season and make him more valuable. (Matthew Carruth)

The Quick Opinion: A king in whatever league you want to put him in, Felix Hernandez is worth taking early. Even if only to hold him hostage against the poor Mariner fan(s) in your league.

Profile: A first glance at King Felix’s numbers could easily give the impression that 2011 was a down year for the still-young pitcher. After winning the AL Cy Young in 2010, he wasn’t even in the conversation in 2011, as his ERA jumped more than a full number (from 2.27 to 3.47). Beneath the surface, though, Hernandez was a model of consistency: his FIP and xFIP were almost exactly the same as his record-setting year, and his peripherals (outside a worrying drop in ground-ball rate) held fairly steady. The most important statistic when it comes to Felix, however, is 240: that’s the number of innings he’s averaged the last three seasons, second only to Roy Halladay. For every maturing pitcher, there are two forces acting at once: he hones his control and command of his pitches as the miles per hour slips away from his fastball. Felix is no different in that respect. He’s lost a couple of ticks, but the strikeout rate improved for the fourth straight year along with his changeup. Expect nothing different from the King in 2012: 230 innings, 220 strikeouts, and a quarter of the Mariners’ 60 wins. (Patrick Dubuque)

The Quick Opinion: Felix may have lost a couple of ticks on his fastball, and yet his strikeout rate improved for the fourth straight year along with his changeup. Expect nothing different from the King in 2012: 230 innings, 220 strikeouts, and a quarter of the Mariners’ 60 wins.

Profile: Felix Hernandez is known as “King Felix” for a reason, and his perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays brought the ace back into the national spotlight, allowing baseball fans everywhere to remember his brilliance. Since the beginning of 2009, Felix has been remarkably consistent, and best yet, he’s done it all without any sort of arm injury. Owners know what they’re getting with Felix – 230 innings, 220 strikeouts, ERA around 3.00 – and that certainty will drive his price up a few extra dollars on draft day. Don’t be hesitant to pay it, even with Seattle bringing the fences in a few feet. Felix truly is King, and he’ll anchor your rotation all year long. (Zach Sanders)

The Quick Opinion: Felix Hernandez is a remarkably consistent ace, and while that’ll cost you a few extra shekels on draft day, he’s worth the price.

Profile: Felix Hernandez turns 28 in April and he's already logged over 1800 innings, amassing 41.2 wins above replacement in that time. "The King" has been a fantasy stalwart for six consecutive years and despite his well-documented steady decline in velocity, he's coming off his highest strikeout percentage in his career at 26.3%. There's not a lot of agreement in pitch classification systems on exactly what Hernandez is throwing, but it's clear he's moved away from the fastball in lieu of more sinkers and changeups, with his arm angle and movement being particularly deadly on the latter two. No longer possessing blow-you-away stuff, Hernandez challenges batters with a "hit it if you can" recklessness which tends to produce weak contact. Having a plus slider and curve at his disposal gives batters a broad repertoire which keeps them guessing. There are occasions where he lacks command, and that's when the current absence of a plus four seamer can expose him. And don't forget workload concerns, with the ominous "injury clause" the team threw into his contract extension when it wasn't 100% thrilled with his medicals. But until the King proves us wrong, you have to consider him one of the top starting pitchers available on draft day. (Michael Barr)

The Quick Opinion: Felix Hernandez has been a stud fantasy contributor going on six seasons. He might not throw 98 mph anymore, but his ability to miss bats has never been better. Still just 28, Hernandez should have plenty left in the tank for 2014 despite workload concerns. Oliver projects a 2.90 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with a 24.5% strikeout rate. Tasty.

Profile: With over 1800 innings on his arm, Felix Hernandez somehow managed to have a career year in 2014, setting an MLB record in the process. King Felix set career bests in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP, and a decent Mariners team gave the King his highest win total since 2009. The King possesses perhaps baseball’s nastiest pitch -- his changeup -- and still has a devastating sinker and the ability to throw the Royal Curve for strikes on the corner, making him relatively unhittable. Felix has never had a serious injury in his career, but while just 29 years old, has over 2000 innings under his belt. Felix is going to get hurt or break down one of these days, but until that day comes, he’s a fantasy ace who constantly meets or exceeds expectations. Don’t be afraid to throw out $30 dollars for the King in standard leagues. (Zach Sanders)

The Quick Opinion: Felix Hernandez may not have taken home the AL Cy Young award, but he’ll compete for the trophy again this year while leading your roto rotation. Trust in the King.

Profile: Has there been a more consistent top level starter over the last eight years than Felix Hernandez? Felix has thrown at least 200 innings in each of the past eight seasons, struck out at least 20% of the batters he’s faced, and walked less than 10%. While consistent, is it possible that 2016 will see those streaks come to an end? In his age-30 season, King Felix will have to fight the effects of aging to remain on top of his throne, and if 2015 is any indication, he may not be able to do so. Last year, Felix had his worst ERA (3.53) since 2007, and tied a career worst mark for homers allowed. His WHIP was at its worst since 2008, as well. Felix may be aging and wearing down, but it’s not over yet; his sinker will still sit between 90 and 92 mph, and his devastating changeup is still just a couple ticks behind his fastball and drops off the table like few pitches in the game. Felix has been dealt a raw hand as he’s been aging; former General Manager Jack Zduriencik ignored outfield defense in an attempt to build a powerful lineup, and the King has been forced to put up with subpar defense on the occasions when he does allow the ball to be put into the air. The Mariners have improved their defense this offseason while also likely improving the quality of their lineup, which should help offset some of Felix’s age related decline. Felix may not be at the top of the fantasy world anymore, but he’s still a top-10 starter. (Zach Sanders)

The Quick Opinion: King Felix Hernandez’s throne is slowly slipping away from him, but an improved Mariners defense and likely improved offense will keep him in the land of fantasy aces. Felix may not be a good bet as a top-five starter anymore, but he’s still in the top 10.

Profile: Felix Hernandez’s fastball velocity has been on the decline for a decade now, but 2016 was the first season where that seemed to actually limit his effectiveness as a pitcher. Last year was the first season since 2008 that Hernandez struck out fewer than eight batters per nine innings, and his 3.8 walks per nine were a career high. Perhaps Hernandez’s calf injury had something to do with his poor performance, but his 4.45 ERA in May prior to the injury was hardly vintage Felix. Still, there is some hope that Hernandez could bounce back in 2017. For one, Hernandez has maintained a similar velocity differential between his fastball and changeup. For another, Hernandez’s 14.5 percent home run per flyball rate was uncharacteristically high, especially in a home park in Safeco Field that has traditionally limited home runs relative to average parks. There are certainly signs that Hernandez could be next in line of once-dominant pitchers to lose their edge in the 30s, but he has the diversity of pitches and favorable park that I am willing to draft him as a top-30 fantasy starter and hope for the bounce back. (Scott Spratt)

The Quick Opinion: Felix Hernandez had an uncharacteristically poor 2016 season with just 7.2 strikeouts per nine, 3.8 walks per nine, and a 3.82 ERA. Perhaps his declining fastball velocity was the culprit, perhaps his calf injury was somewhat responsible, but whatever the case, he has enough going for him with his exceptional pitch mix and pitcher-friendly home park to give him a chance to bounce back.

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